TRAINING YOUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS EMOTIONAL WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS INTERNATIONAL STUDENT INSURANCE | BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE
PRESENTERS Leah Hammond Deborah Como Kepler Jodi Hanelt Customer Service Manager LCPC, LADC Director, International Students Licensed Insurance Agent Counselor and Scholars Office Psychologist
CULTURE SHOCK & STRESS VIDEO https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/explained/culture-shock-and-stress-video.php
AGENDA What’s Going On With Our Students? Understanding the Challenges Overcoming the Challenges Programming That Works Resources Discussion & Questions
WHAT’S GOING ON?
WHAT’S GOING ON? 40% of students so depressed they found it difficult to function 61% of students felt ”overwhelming anxiety” 13.9% of entering freshman anticipate a “very good chance” of seeking 49% counselling of adolescents ages 13-18 experience mental health disorders 38.5% felt things were hopeless Source: NIMH
WHAT’S GOING ON? - MENTAL HEALTH CARE UNDERUTILIZED Mental Health Need, Awareness, and Use of Counseling Services Among International Graduate Students, Journal of American College Health Source: Hyun, Quinn, Madon, & Lusting, 2010
UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES
CULTURE IMPACTS - ALL ASPECTS OF ILLNESS • Expression of symptoms outwardly and inwardly • Experience of symptoms • Coping • Where to seek care • Management of symptoms • How they seek help
UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES – COMMON ISSUES Seeking Care Second language anxiety - Location of counseling center - Daily routine - Cultural understanding - Communicating with professors and classmates - Coordinating a living situation - Asking for help Interpersonal Identity - Cultural Boundaries - Acculturation - Differences in relationships - Social class - Peer pressure - Race - Parental expectations - Discrimination - Political Oppression Academic Career planning - Teaching styles in other countries - Finances - Presentation styles - Area of study - Academic pressure - Planning
COMMON MYTHS
ENTENDIENDO LAS DIFICULTADES OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES
SUPPORTINGYOUR STUDENTS Help Create A Community 1. Connecting students prior to their arrival in the US Awareness of clubs, teams and organizations on campus Scheduling events regularly, and especially during holidays Regular Check-Ins 2. Being able to identify students who are struggling Noticeable changes in dress, appearance, demeanor Being available to talk, and to speak with others in the community Internal Training 3. Identify and respond to students in distress When to connect students to resources How to listen actively, empathetically, and without judgement
CULTURE OF CARE: PLAN AHEAD In difficult conversations: Consider student’s reaction when responding Consider how you will handle discomfort delivering/receiving information Don’t avoid subject because it’s uncomfortable (ex: suicide) Avoid minimizing their feelings/situation (Be positive) Know when to refer Connect with on and off campus resources Planning Ahead: Have a plan, know who to call and connect with resources
HOW TO REDUCE STIGMA Invite on-campus Dispel the myths: What is Know the facts about counselors/psychologists mental health and cultural differences to orientation and meet counseling around counseling & greets Educate Give testimonials even counselors/psychologists Normalize students’ anonymously, and perhaps on how to communicate concerns and stress in their native language across cultures Demystify seeking Creative ways of treatment (i.e., types of introducing counseling providers, where to go, what to expect)
WELLNESS APPS There are over 165,000 wellness apps available today, according to Flurry analytics. According to Flurry’s recent study: 96% of smart phone users are using one health and fitness app • Over 75% of active users open their favorite health app at least 2/week • 25% of users access their fitness apps more than 10/week • Apps for the Body : Physical Activity • Nutrition • Habit Changing/Wellness Planning • Apps for the Mind: Mental Health App Resourcing Websites: • Zur Institute • Apps4Counselors • YellowBrick Program • Reachout.com
WELLNESS APPS
ENTENDIENDO LAS DIFICULTADES PROGRAMMING THAT WORKS
“...the quality of the social support system can have both a direct and a buffering effect when international students undergo psychological stress.” Meirong Liu, “Addressing the Mental Health Problems of Chinese International College Students in the United States,” Advances in SocialWork Vpl. 10 No. 1 (Spring 2009), p. 74.
PRE-DEPARTURE PROGRAMMING Prior to student’s arrival, think of ways to prepare students or address the topic in pre-departure materials: Introduction materials about the Counseling/Wellness initiatives available on campus with pictures and phone numbers/emails Testimonials from current students about homesickness, culture shock, stress, anxiety, and depression (perhaps in video format) Quotes about acceptance of mental health and counseling (like “Common Myths”) Create Buddy programs Collaborate in residence halls on outreach programming At Brandeis: inSTEP International Student Experience Project
MENTAL HEALTH IN ORIENTATION These are a few things you can keep in mind for your international student orientation: Educate students on challenges and cultural adjustment issues that may arise Invite Counseling Center or other mental health professionals to introduce mental health service/host a luncheon Educate students about campus/community resources Train your peer leaders and mentors to be knowledgeable enough about these issues to help guide students Collaborate in residence halls on outreach programming
ORIENTATION AT BRANDEIS International Pre-Orientation: Introducing students to Brandeis Counseling Center 2016 Pre-Orientation included three 30 minute sessions: Tour of the Brandeis Counseling Center Art Therapy Presentation by Counselors Broke large group up into 30-40 students each and rotated them through each session. RISE: Resilience, Information, Skills, and Experiences Pre-Orientation designed for students who previously experienced depression and/or anxiety. New this year, open to all students.
PROGRAMMING THAT HELPS Buddy/Peer mentor programs Workshops (e.g., “Decoding U.S. Culture”, “Lost in Translation”, “Culture Shock”) “Let’s Talk” Drop-in Hours University 101-type courses Social organizations/student clubs Summer/Holiday programs Friendship family programs Discussion/Support Groups Creative initiates (e.g., “Welcome to My World Photo Exhibition”)
SPECIAL OUTREACH AT BRANDEIS Our Global Campus – Annual training, all faculty and staff invited 2018 Training: Cross Cultural Understanding of Student Mental Health in the US More than 100 attendees Partnered with International Student Insurance and MGH Center for Cross-Cultural Student Emotional Wellness Care T eam (Behavioral Intervention T eam) Members: Between 10-12 members Co-chaired by Dean of Students and Residential Life plus CARE Team Case Manager Includes: Public Safety, Residential Life, Dean of Students, Graduate Student Affairs, Spiritual Life, Academic Services, ISSO Meets weekly for 1 hour – and numbers are growing
v RESOURCES & HOTLINES PRE-DEPARTURE, ORIENTATION, ONLINE
EMOTIONAL WELLNESS TRAINING
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS VIDEO www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/explained/mental-health-video.php
RESOURCES – FOR PROFESSIONALS NAFSA Resources Best Practices in Addressing Mental Health Issues Affecting Education Abroad Participants shop.nafsa.org/detail.aspx?id=102E Crisis Management in a Cross Cultural Setting: ISSS shop.nafsa.org/detail.aspx?id=992 NAFSA Book/E-book: Mental Health Issues and International Students - AVAILABLE DECEMBER 2018 Other Resources Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Cross-Cultural Student Emotional Wellness (MGHCCCSEW) www.mghstudentwellness.org/consortium-landing
SERVICES & HOTLINES – FOR STUDENTS Online and phone counseling services Hotlines and services National Suicide Prevention - 1-800-273-TALK www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org The National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-SAFE www.thehotline.org It Gets Better Project (LGBTQ) 1-866-4-U-TREVOR www.itgetsbetter.org/pages/get-help Trans Lifeline (transgender specific) www.translifeline.org Crisis T ext Line - T ext 741-741 www.crisistextline.org
“International students who reported a more functional relationship with their advisors were less likely to report having an emotional or stress-related problem in the past year.” (Source: Hyun, Quinn, Madon, & Lusting, 2010)
QUESTIONS?
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